Bidding

On the day of the auction, carriages crowded the entrance of the Mitel Auction House.

Wutan City was not large to begin with, and nearly every notable figure in the city had come.

The carriages of the three great clans arrived almost one after another. Xiao Zhan was the first to step down, his expression composed and his stride imposing.

Jia Lie Bi's carriage followed closely behind, while Ao Ba Pa arrived at almost the same time. The three exchanged glances and offered a few insincere pleasantries before walking shoulder to shoulder toward the auction house entrance.

"Clan Head Xiao, you came rather early today."

Jia Lie Bi stroked his beard, his gaze sweeping over Xiao Zhan.

"Looks like you're determined to obtain that Foundation-Strengthening Liquid?"

Xiao Zhan's expression did not change. "Didn't Clan Head Jia Lie come early as well? This item can assist in Dou Qi cultivation. My Xiao Clan has many juniors, so naturally we must compete for it."

Jia Lie Bi chuckled. "Having many juniors is a good thing, but it also depends on whether they have the talent. Pour spiritual liquid over a fine sapling, and it becomes like a tiger with wings. Pour it over rotten wood... and it is nothing more than a waste of medicine. What do you think, Clan Head Xiao?"

Xiao Zhan did not slow his pace, his tone calm. "Whether it is rotten wood or a fine sapling, you will only know after watering it. If Clan Head Jia Lie thinks it is a waste, then you need not bid later."

Jia Lie Bi choked on his words, his face darkening slightly, but he quickly recovered his smile. "Hehe, Clan Head Xiao, you jest. How could I not bid on something this good? These ten portions of Foundation-Strengthening Liquid are mine for the taking."

Ao Ba Pa cut in with a smile. "Brother Jia Lie is certainly confident, but I heard your clan recently made a sizeable investment in business over in the imperial capital. Your funds must be rather tight, no?"

Jia Lie Bi glanced at him. "Brother Ao Ba is well informed. But no matter how tight things are, I am not short of this little bit of money."

As they spoke, the three had already entered the auction hall and took their respective seats under the guidance of an attendant.

Xiao Zhan sat on the far left, Jia Lie Bi in the center, and Ao Ba Pa on the right. Each occupied his own side, their gazes occasionally meeting in the air and sending sparks flying.

The hall buzzed with voices, packed with figures from forces both large and small throughout Wutan City.

After taking his seat, Jia Lie Bi leisurely lifted his teacup and took a sip. Glancing at Xiao Zhan from the corner of his eye, he suddenly laughed. "Clan Head Xiao, I hear the Xiao Clan has run into some trouble lately. There must be plenty of places demanding money, so do not overextend yourself today."

Xiao Zhan did not even raise his eyelids, his voice steady. "Thank you for your concern, Clan Head Jia Lie. I know what I am doing."

Ao Ba Pa listened to their back-and-forth with particular delight, occasionally interjecting. "Oh my, you are both heads of great clans. Why argue over such a trivial matter? As for today's Foundation-Strengthening Liquid, everyone should rely on their own means."

Though he spoke as if he were mediating, all he wanted was to watch the spectacle unfold.

On the stage, seeing that all the guests had arrived, Ya Fei smiled slightly and raised her delicate hand to signal for silence. Her seductive voice carried just the right touch of softness, instantly stirring the atmosphere throughout the hall.

"Everyone, today's auction now begins. The first item up for auction today is..."

The auction proceeded swiftly, and before long, it reached the final highlight.

Ya Fei's alluring voice rang throughout the hall.

"Next is the second-tier Foundation-Strengthening Liquid that you have all been eagerly awaiting. This item can help cultivators in the Dou Qi stage accelerate their cultivation. It is mild and has no side effects, making it the ideal choice for every clan to nurture its younger generation. Oh, and a small reminder for everyone: these ten portions of second-tier Foundation-Strengthening Liquid were crafted by a sixth-tier alchemist. I am sure you all understand the weight of that, do you not? Very well, the auction shall now begin."

With a wave of her delicate hand, an attendant brought up a silver tray bearing three neatly arranged white jade bottles.

"First round: three bottles of second-tier Foundation-Strengthening Liquid, sold as a bundle. The starting bid is fifteen thousand gold coins, with each raise no less than one thousand."

The moment those words fell, the entire hall erupted into commotion.

A sixth-tier alchemist! That was a legendary existence. In the entire Jia Ma Empire, there was only one—the Pill King, Gu He. No one had expected this Foundation-Strengthening Liquid to have come from the hands of a sixth-tier alchemist.

The pupils of everyone from the three great clans contracted.

Three bottles sold together, with a starting bid of fifteen thousand. People below immediately began whispering among themselves, while several heads of smaller clans straightened in their seats, eager to try their luck.

Jia Lie Bi was the first to speak, his tone composed and brimming with determination. "Twenty thousand."

The instant Jia Lie Bi's voice fell, Xiao Zhan followed at an unhurried pace. "Twenty-two thousand."

Ao Ba Pa raised his bidding paddle with a genial smile. "Twenty-five thousand. With both clan heads making such a show of it, I ought to join the fun as well."

Jia Lie Bi shot Ao Ba Pa a glance and snorted coldly. "Brother Ao Ba is not afraid of emptying his family coffers, I see. Twenty-eight thousand."

Xiao Zhan's expression remained unchanged. "Thirty thousand."

After only a few exchanges, the price of the three bottles of Foundation-Strengthening Liquid had been pushed to thirty thousand gold coins. Those from the smaller clans had long since backed down. A price like this was no longer something they could participate in.

Jia Lie Bi frowned slightly.

Ao Ba Pa, meanwhile, calmly added another bid. "Thirty-two thousand."

Xiao Zhan fell silent for a moment. The atmosphere in the hall subtly stiffened as everyone waited for his decision.

A moment later, Xiao Zhan set down his bidding paddle and said calmly, "Since Brother Ao Ba is so sincere, Xiao will yield this round to you."

A smug smile appeared on Ao Ba Pa's face as he cupped his hands toward the people around him. "Much obliged, much obliged!"

Jia Lie Bi snorted. "Let him be pleased for now. There is more to come. This is only the first round—the real contest is still ahead."

Ao Ba Pa secured the first round's three bottles of Foundation-Strengthening Liquid for thirty-two thousand, and the smile on his face nearly overflowed.

He deliberately waved the jade bottles in his hand toward Jia Lie Bi, looking as smug as could be. Jia Lie Bi was so angered that he nearly crushed the teacup in his hand.

When the second round of three bottles of Foundation-Strengthening Liquid was brought onto the stage, Xiao Zhan's gaze became noticeably more serious.

He sat up straight, gripping his bidding paddle in hand. His manner was no longer as casual as before.

Ya Fei announced the same starting price with a beaming smile. Almost the instant she finished speaking, Jia Lie Bi raised his paddle. "Twenty-two thousand!"

His voice was more hurried than before, clearly unwilling to let Xiao Zhan seize the initiative again.

Xiao Zhan immediately followed. "Twenty-five thousand."

Jia Lie Bi gave him a meaningful look. "Clan Head Xiao, you already withdrew from the previous round. Why not yield this one to me as well? Thirty thousand."

Xiao Zhan remained unmoved. "Thirty-two thousand. If Clan Head Jia Lie wants it, feel free to keep bidding."

Jia Lie Bi gritted his teeth and called out a higher number. "Thirty-five thousand!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Xiao Zhan followed, nearly speaking over the end of his bid. "Thirty-eight thousand."

The two continued raising the price, while Ao Ba Pa sat beside them watching the show at leisure, teacup in hand. From time to time, he took a sip before casually adding, "Forty thousand?"

Jia Lie Bi abruptly turned and glared at him. "Ao Ba Pa! What do you mean by that? You have already taken one round and still want to interfere?"

Ao Ba Pa shrank back slightly and chuckled. "Just saying, just saying. Please continue, please continue."

But that one casual remark made Jia Lie Bi even more agitated.

He feared that Ao Ba Pa would truly jump in halfway to disrupt things, and he also feared that Xiao Zhan would continue clinging on. After struggling internally for a long while, he finally gritted his teeth and raised his paddle. "Forty-two thousand!"

Xiao Zhan glanced at him and fell silent for several breaths.

During those few breaths, Jia Lie Bi's heartbeat quickened.

At last, Xiao Zhan slowly lowered his bidding paddle and said calmly, "Since Clan Head Jia Lie wants it so badly, Xiao will yield this time."